Daily Independent (Lagos)
Adetutu Folasade-Koyi, Yaqoub Popoola and Emmanuel Nzomiwu
3 July 2009
Abuja/ Enugu/ Ekiti — He was a prominent member of the Supreme Military Council (SMC) from 1975 to 1979, in the days of Yakubu Gowon, Murtala Muhammed, and Olusegun Obasanjo as Heads of State.
Oluleye, who was once Minister of Finance, died in his Efon Alaaye country home in Ekiti State. He wrote two books, Military Leadership in Nigeria: 1966-1979, and Archictecturing In Destiny - An Autobiography.
In his tribute, Ado Ekiti University Vice Chancellor, Dipo Kolawole, described him as an asset to the state and the country as a whole, "a very honest man who lived an honest life. His puritanism, integrity, and honour remained unassailable.
"We would have loved him to live with us forever, but then, death is an inevitable end for all humans. We are going to miss him."
News also broke of the death of former Senator Martins Yellowe, whose demise Senate President, David Mark, described as a great loss to the polity and the medical profession.
Yellowe, who died on Wednesday at the National Hospital in Abuja, was a member of the Senate from 1999 to 2007. He chaired the Health and Environment Committees at different times.
Yellowe contested the primaries for the Rivers State Governorship but lost to Rotimi Amaechi, who went on to get the post.
A condolence message Mark issued through his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, said Yellowe's "contributions to the political development of Nigeria will remain ever green. It is on record that (he) sponsored the highest number of Bills" during his tenure in the Senate.
Meanwhile, the rites of passage of former Governor of old Anambra State, Christian Chukwuma Onoh, continue today with a special court session in Enugu, from where the remains head to his Enugu Ngwo compound for a lying in state and burial.
The final journey began on Thursday with a commendation service at Government House, Enugu. There, his casket was laid before dignitaries who gathered to pay their last respects.
Among them were Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; Governors Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Theodore Orji (Abia), Peter Obi (Anambra), Martin Elechi (Ebonyi), and Ikedi Ohakim (Imo); former Senate President, Ken Nnamani; Jim Nwobodo; Okwesilieze Nwodo; Chris Ngige; Nnia Nwodo; and Dubem Onyia.
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